Bird Island (just 6 miles from Placencia, Belize) offers the unique opportunity of having your very own island all to yourself with either your loved one, family or group of friends in comfort and in absolute privacy. It is located inside one of the most beautiful shallow-water atolls in Belize. It offers the full spectrum - from true relaxation to endless choices of outdoor activities right outside your door.
The original concept of Bird Island which we still adhere to after many years is to provide a uniquely fun island experience at a very-affordable price but giving up very little. While our competitors emphasize super luxury foremost (and have to charge thousands of dollars per night), we rather offer true comfort but also fun things to do. A recent guest (Melissa) said it best in her review - "Be prepared to never stay at a typical resort again because everything will pale in comparison."
If comradeship with only people you know while having the choice of doing many fun activities together like kayaking, paddle boarding, snorkeling, underwater exploring, fishing, fire chats is your interests, while being totally free in an informal private setting, you will definitely be coming to the right place as one can surmise from the hundreds of very kind and grateful reviews we have received from our guests over the last 8 years.
And when staying at Bird Island, there is no need to go on expensive tours anywhere else since you really are already 'there'.
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Other Notes: (Updated February, 2024)
>> Reservations: It is important that the reservation is indeed accurate as to the number of guests actually coming since it helps us plan for your stay that much better. The island's capacity is 8 persons.
>> Price: The base price is $895 for the first two (2) guests. $100 per person per night beyond that.
>> Length of stay: We have a minimum of 4 days; most guests book for 5 days. We do leave a 24-hour window between guests for general cleaning and maintenance.
>> The overall sequence of events for our guests on the day they are going to the island is: 1- meet at our Bird Island office if already staying in Placencia or meet you at Placencia airport if arriving the same day as reservation, 2- personal equipment outfitting at our office; 3- go food shopping (very close by) and off we go. The entire process takes approximately one hour since Placencia is a small village.
>> General Meeting Place: Unless other arrangements have been made, the best meeting place is at our Bird Island office at 11am (or later) on the day of departure which is right on main street in Placencia, where the sidewalk crosses the main road in the very middle of town. Placencia is a small village with one mainstreet.
>> Getting to Placencia from Belize City Airport is now much easier with the just-opened coastal road that bypasses the mountains roads and the city of Belmopan. Price does not include the transport from Belize City to Placencia, though now it is a simpler and very inexpensive affair.
~By Shuttle: The shuttle service we recommend is Truly Wild - their prices each way are: $275usd for 2 people, $300usd for 4 and $325usd for 6 people . (2.5 hour drive or less.)
~By Rental Car: The auto rental establishments we have heard the best opinions on is Pancho's - (their prices ranging from $75usd-$100usd). Also Crystal (their prices ranging between $53usd-$100usd). Their places of establishment are right at the Belize City international airport where you will be landing. (2.5 hr drive or less.)
~By Air: (Maya or Tropic Air) About $130 USD each way per person. Only 40-minute flight. When it is only two persons involved, flying is the most inexpensive option.
(Note: If going to Bird Island the same day as arriving, the shuttle/rental car route works best if one is arriving in Belize International Airport by 2pm or so since it is now only a 2.5hr drive to Placencia. Plus (1) hour for food shopping and 20 minutes to get to the island. It gets dark in Belize by 6:30pm. If arriving to Belize International well after 2pm it is best to ~fly~ to Placencia if leaving for the island on the same day. Staying a day in the village of Placencia prior to coming to the island is also a great idea since it is a safe and fun place to be.
>> Exclusivity. Yes, when you book Bird Island, you will have the entire island all to yourself in absolute privacy. There is no staff on the island, unless you ask for our cook, which makes Bird Island the only truly totally-private island opportunity in Belize.
>> Accommodations: The island has 4 separate places to stay in (with 7 beds) and each with their own bathroom. It can accommodate 8 persons, especially today when the island has undergone so many expansions.
>> The trip from Placencia Village to Bird Island via boat is included in the price (just a 18-minute run). Pick-up from the island when returning should be about 2 hours before flying out of Placencia.
>> A mid-stay trip (when staying 5+ days) to the mainland for necessary supplies is available; though it is by far easier for us to get what's needed to the island during your stay than having to make two trips back & forth.
>> Cook : If you would like a cook we have a very good one available, $175 a day. She also does house keeping and is a good guide on activities as one can surmise from the great reviews she constantly receives from our guests.
>> Snorkeling / Fishing equipment: Please bring your own mask that you are totally comfortable with; we do have every size of good-quality Cressi fins however at our shop available which you are welcome to borrow (no fee). We also have some very innovative sport equipment at the island, such an array of excellent floating devices and new types of snorkeling & swimming boards to take advantage of the new island 'swimming hole' areas.
>> Wading slipper-type shoes. The island is surrounded by shallow sand flats and within 100 feet a spectacular reef with live coral; bringing soft slippers type of beach shoes is a good thing to have when walking about.
>> Food Supply: Bird Island is a self-catering scenario (unless hire our cook), so the plan is just to bring enough meats, vegetable and drinks (i.e. liquor, ice) for your stay. We do assist you with your local food shopping. If hiring a cook, she does the shopping with you. The island has a very well-stocked kitchen with a myriad of condiments such as cake mixes, flour, rice, spices, oils, paper towels, garbage bags, etc., so you are not required to think of every little thing. Food shopping is a very simple affair and will be the very last step before departing for Bird Island. The island has a big refrigeration, freezer and Yeti coolers at the bar to maintain ice. If you are a Keurig coffee drinker please bring K-cups with you since they are nearly impossible to find in Belize.
>> Drinking Water: The island has a well-filtered rain-water system for all general uses; however, we still provide purified bottled drinking water. No need to worry about bringing drinking water yourself.
>>While on the subject of water, it is the most precious commodity in an island, so conscientious water usage should be kept in mind at all times when staying in an island.
>> Refrigeration: The island has an electric freezer to maintain ice. Bringing at least six (6) bags of ice when food shopping is recommended.
>> Power. The island runs on solar-power and does have a whisper-quiet, turn-key generator that can be turned on if needed (i.e. in the rare event of a string of cloudy days).
>> Entertainment: The island has an excellent Wi-Fi, Bluetooth (2), many great board games and an extensive library of books. If you love reading, you will find no finer selection of books.
>> Side Services (while staying in Placencia or Bird Island): One extra service we highly recommend while staying in Bird Island is a fishing trip with Thurman which will provide all the fish you will need the rest of one's stay.
>> During 2023 we did add many new fun snorkeling/swimming areas with beautiful aqua blue 'pools', umbrellas and benches over the water, and even underwater 'pyramids' now full of fish, octopus, crabs and the like to see at your leisure making going elsewhere on a tour not necessary whatsoever.
>> Security: Though Bird Island is only 6 miles away from town and inside its own atoll, we share a security association with other islands. The new Coast Guard station is in an island within sight of Bird Island.
>> Getting around the atoll. There are a single-person and 2 double-person kayaks and two (2) Paddle boards to cruise the atoll that surrounds the island, as well as new snorkeling & swimming boards.
>> Sun Tan Lotion (and Bug Spray). Remember, it is the tropics; the best type of suntan lotion is one of a high Block Factor (50), either lotion or spray type.
>> Bugs (i.e. sand flies, mosquitoes). Unlike the mainland or most other islands, Bird Island just doesn't tend to have them, in fact it is one of the things our guests really appreciate the most. We have never have had to spray for them either.
>> General weather pattern:
January-June 15th: is considered the 'dry season'.
June 15th-July 15th: the first seasonal rains tend to occur.
July 15th-September 15th: usually is very nice weather, interrupted by the occasional 30-minute a passing shower.
September 15th-October 20th: the second seasonal rains tend to occur, again passing showers.
November 1st-December 30th Occasional thunderstorms here and there but great weather in long stretches between them.
